Still would like to hear if anyone has done this or if doing it may weaken the nose of the SS too much... ............

Ron

Take a look at these two photos. One is the V1 and the other the V2. It looks to me like you would just create a V1 nose by removing that foam that surrounds the nose weight in the V2. I think the V1 nose is plenty strong (although I have not put mine to the impact test yet).

If you use a CG of 72mm, you can use a 1300mah 3S1P lipo easily with no extra ballast. While the suggested CG is 60mm, I can assure you that 72mm is just as stable. If you added things like a cf 3mm tube down the antenna slot or added a CF tube on the stab, it might be impossible. I have two planes that I set at 72mm and use a 1300mah lipo and they fly perfectly. When I set the CG at 90mm, it becomes very aerobatic and really fun to fly (for me) - Yes. It does take a bit more experience to maintain stability at that CG setting. I don't consider that excessive since it is still very flyable. It is fair to say that an excessively nose heavy plane will not fly either.
AJ

Just an observation from the sidelines here but....
I'd read & taken note of the various CG's mentioned whilst I's building & modding my Bix (even before, in fact)....and had not REALLy 'applied' the info or let it 'sink in' as to what it signified. Until I got to the stage where I marked different colored dots along the measuring points at 60, '62' and 70mm. I say '62' as, it would've been so close to the 60 it would've only served to make the 60 look fat. So I placed a dot at 65....sort've an 'in between' point.

And my point here is....when you have some actual points to LOOK at and consider, there aint very much open range between 60 & 70mm!! It's only 1cm difference! Considerably less than the previously prescribed 'fingertip' balancing method's very 'tool' - the fintertip! (OK, maybe I've got fat fingers....not an original postulation, I assure you - proven many times over my life!! *LOL*) But heck - you can barely get the professional tool new pencil eraser in there with any room to spare!!

What I'm suggesting is, I don't see how 60 or 70 could be much more than 'a suggested inclusive area'....and seriously doubt 99% of our fliers are placing their LiPo packs anywhere more precisely to hit either of those figures exactly, much less anything in between, than AS a generalized spot. And hence, fussing over THE exact spot ain't as deserving as we've made it. 2mm as a point of contention?? C'MON!!!!

By all means please correct me if I'm wrong. But first, mark 2 dots 1-cm apart, and assure me when those spots are covered in velcro, you can place another velcro covered object thru a smallish opening & locate precisely on either point.

SH. I have to agree on those points. Fat fingers or thin, it does not give an accurate position of the COG.
I have CAed two bead headed pins on my COG spot, so when the fingers are on the pins it is good to go.
I would add that there is a degree of latitude of the COG on this model.

Got in a belated flight session Sunday afternoon. We had a surprising number of fliers show up from out of town - all reporting Irene had pretty much destroyed or damaged their local fields. That contributed to the only couple of flights we managed to sneak in - the air was kind've crowded with planes, not to mention blustery wind conditions.

Mike declared it WAY too windy for me to attempt, and I knew it so didn't mind at all that he did the flying while I studied his Tx operations. An 'OT' flight was first, only mentioning it becuz I'd so eagerly anticipated it -- maiden of the Messerschmitt. Short review....it flew like a fat pig, way underpowered, & got only about 7 minutes out of a fully charged 2200mAh NanoTech. Anyway, got it on video, will be uploading it to YouTube later if you're interested.

The Bix flew beautifully, even as Mike noted a few times the wind was really beating it up. Y'know, I've come to really appreciate how that thing flies....it's just beautiful moving thru the air! Mike hit one amazing spot - about 250' up, he swung it into the wind and it literally hung in one spot for a full 30+ seconds, with no motor!! Mike did something else (at my request) I've not seen in the hours & hours of Bix/SS video's I've seen to date. Outside loop! And not one, but a dual!! Tell ME this baby ain't aerobatic!! *LOL* Gotta confess my puckerstring pulled down a couple knots as he executed the first, and continued thru the unexpected 2d. She's SOLID, man!!!

Two things (besides the aero's) make this worth reporting. First was that it was a trial run for something new - the HD keyfob cam. Proved to be angled a bit high, and quit recording visual at about 6-7ish minutes but continued sound recording til the end of the flight. ??? on that one! I got a feeling the last scene - turned towards the sun, might've been what blinded it -- will be testing today. Subnote - under-wing & camera-top patch of DualLock about 3/8" square was the sole mount!

The 2nd thing - Mike really wrung it out during the flight, pressing especially hard the last few of the 11 minutes. When it touched down, immediately popped canopy & took temperature read on the 20A stilted ESC: 106°. AIR DUCTS WORK!!

A post-flight review you'll enjoy. Sitting under the clubhouse shelter packing everything away for the trip home, Mike said the Bixler way outflew the 109 - grinning like a mule eatin' briars.

Great. BTW, would you guys recommend Bixler KIT or ARF versions? I had the same plane (sold under different name) for 8 months so I know some of the issues, but I'm bit afraid of motor installation. I think the ARF doesn't include ESC/BEC so I can buy one I like.

Great. BTW, would you guys recommend Bixler KIT or ARF versions? I had the same plane (sold under different name) for 8 months so I know some of the issues, but I'm bit afraid of motor installation. I think the ARF doesn't include ESC/BEC so I can buy one I like.

I would definitely go for the ARF. I bought the RTF from Grayson because I will be giving it to someone to learn on after a "shake-down" flight. To me, the kit is not worth the cost difference considering what you get in the ARF.

As the fuel is the gas coming from the lipo , it cant burn without the other two , so , as we cant contain the gas and keep it from the oxygen , all it takes is very hot speck of 'Innards' to be ejected with the gas out where there is oxygen and ...BINGO
So unless your container has some sort of very fine mesh to stop a hot 'Igniter' coming out with the gas...............................you can forget that ANY sort of container currently available will be "Fire Proof"
Some mite be lucky that an 'igniter' doesn't get ejected with the gas and all you get is 'smoke'
If this being here in this thread upsets anyone feel free to move it to the appropriate thread

What would be the maximum wind speed a total noob should be trying to fly this bird in?
General opinions sought, I know it can't be definitive.

I tried today in 27kmh and naturally aborted very quickly. It didn't seem that strong until I got to the park. So if I have an idea then I'll know not to get my hopes up.

If the wind is swaying tree branches and there are "waves" running on meadows, the wind is too strong for the plane. SkySurver/Bixler/whatever is quite light and not very aerodynamically "clean" so it quite struggles against wind. Some light to medium breeze is quite enjoyable, though, and it soars pretty well on the slope.

There's also the skill of the pilot and the plane set up. I crashed my plane in wind that I would certainly manage fine later on.

I shakes out between 60 and 65mm. I have to add that I have a 2836 inrunner in the nacelle and swapped the tail control rods to heavier Dubros, both of which add aft weight. I have found that a CG approaching 70mm or even further aft makes for some lousy pitch stability and is not suitable for a good flying model.